Friday Indie Q&A with Writer, Actor & Director Sasha Snow

During our Friday Indie Q&A we spent some time with triple threat Writer, Actor & Director Sasha Snow. Her ability to dive into numerous mediums inspire us daily. Sasha won first place in our Napkin Microfiction Contest with her award winning piece Le Table. Read her sage advice on comparison.

Homage to Second Chance

Indie: Congratulations on placing 1st with the Napkin Microfiction Writing Contest with your story Le Table! What inspired you to write this winning piece of fiction? 

Sasha: I was inspired to write Le Table by the recent passing of my pet rabbit, Fiver. We rescued him as an elderly rabbit about a year and a half ago; I always made up stories about his life before finding us. Le Table was an homage to his second chapter– his second chance at having a new life and loving family.

Screenplay & Sketch Comedy Daily

Indie: Do you write often? If so, tell us about your other writing.

Sasha: I try to write every day, even if it’s only a sentence or idea (which often times it’s just that). I’ve been a writer since I was a child, and I’ve found my greatest passion lies in screenwriting. I enjoy writing short films and sketch comedy, both of which I produce and sometimes act in. I regularly study sketch comedy writing with Upright Citizen’s Brigade and The Groundlings in Los Angeles.

Currently, I’m re-editing my feature-length horror screenplay; writing my first play; in pre-production for a short comedic film I also wrote; and taking a TV Writing class from UCB.

Write As Character

Indie: Sounds like your writing is medicine for life in general and great fun! What did you learn about yourself while writing Le Table? How does it effect your other writing, and acting?

Sasha: I learned that if I’m passionate about a subject, I can write quickly, which is something I struggle with. I definitely did mull over this for a few days, writing sentences on scraps of paper or in my ‘Notes’ section of my phone, but then in one go, I compiled all those ideas into this therapeutic little piece that I’ll never forget. It was so easy, it just flowed out of me.

I’ve learned from acting how to get into a character– I was that table when I wrote this piece. I really enjoy writing for animals and inanimate objects because it’s a freeing place to go—no one can actually say what a rabbit or table is thinking, so there’s little judgement on my part when I go to those unknown places.

On Comparison

Indie: Can you give us some sage advice about being a creator?

Sasha:

“It is not how you compare to others that is important, but rather how you compare to who you were yesterday. If you’ve advanced even one step, then you’ve achieved something great.”

–Daisaku Ikeda

“Don’t compare your art or craft to someone else’s. It’s unique and important because it comes from you. If you write one sentence, if you finish the first draft, if you complete anything, congratulations—you’re an artist.”

-Sasha Snow, Writer, Actor & Director

Best Supporting Actress for Dramatic Short

Indie: What is one BIG WIN other than winning the contest that you’d like to share with us?

Sasha: I won Best Supporting Actress from the Annual LAVC Film Festival for a dramatic short, His Emily. I’ve mostly done comedy since moving to LA nine years ago, but I was cast in this lovely film about mental illness. I had several crying scenes, and I loved it (since childhood, I’ve been mostly trained as a dramatic actor).

My Mom-Coach, Encourager & Creator

Indie: Congratulations! I love that you shared that with us. Thank you! There are so many people who help us along our creative path. Who would you like to give a shoutout to?

Sasha: My mom! She got me into acting when I was five years old. She coached me and several other friends in creative theater competitions and put me into TV/Film acting classes for many years. She’s not an actor herself, which is funny, because she really encouraged me to pursue the theater arts, but she is creative in her own ways. She always landscapes our yards with ponds, streams, flowers, and boulders. She creates her own sculptures out of reclaimed trash and doodles beautiful birthday cards. She’s creative in her own ways, and I’m inspired by her for too many reasons to list.